The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-09-01
HEALTH OF MEMPHIS.
The Improved Sanitary Condition
OF the city.
IGtorestisg Tigurss skowios IisLow
Death Rate and Its Freedom
Prom Isfeetious Diseases.

aDy, in the United States, has at
tracted more attention from a SAM.
tary point Of view than Memphis,
Its geographical location-in the ex.
IRENE southwestern part Of the
Stato-and its constant commercial
intercourse with the cities OF the
gulf renders il more exposed TO the
introduction Of disease from that
! section, when disease prevailed
, there, than any other point in the
State, Owing 30 the extent Of the
sanitary work done at Memphis,
there are substantial reasons fer en-.
teriaining the belief that the city
will never again DO the subject OF
serious epidemic of any character. 1t
has been demonstrated that n city
can be protested by proper procau-
tons against the introduction
and spread Of infectious dis
eases by well directed efforts Of To-
cal health service. and the death rate
lowered from the endemic diseases.
The site Of Memphis is on the fourth
Chick isaw bluff, near where Wolf
river empties into tho Mississippi,
in latitude 10 Y. aud 3l5 feet above
the sea level. Memphis Of today
presents very few Of tho features
charaotcriliug its early liie.' The
grading Of its streets, filling of low,
wet places, aud its changing or
celebrating Of many small water
courses has so altered it's physical
appearance that tho visitor now
would scarcely recognize its topo-
graphy OF fifty year ago. The sewer
syst, m AZ present consists OF forty
three aud quarter miles, which om
braces all the business and a greater
part OF the residence portion Of the
city, at a cost Of S3l0,3sg 30, ex.
elusive OF four miles OF
old sewers purchased by the
city from private corporations, aud
now included in the general system.
The remaining unsewcred portion Of
the city--two suburban wards, Ninth
and Tenth-will be included as soon
as circumstances will admit. This sys-
TEN, known AZ the small pipo one, has
been used long enough, aud its ca
pacity sufficiently tested, 10 deter.
mine its relative value az compared
with other systems, aud the cxp,ri
ence Of Memphis fully jusliiies the
conclusion that the principle il cor
rect in theory aud practice, an appli-
cable TO this locality
The present water supply is fur
nishod from Wolf river, but recently
the city contracted for a supply Of
artosian we'll water, an incxhausti-
bic supply OF wonderfully pure. clear
and cool water having been found nj
depth oil between 300 and 400 feet
beneath the surface. There are now
twenty-five aud n hall miles of newly
paved streets, mostly with stone aud
gravel, which have greatly improved
the drainage. The best evidence OF an
improved sanitary condition Of a
place IN freedom IRON cpidomics and
a comparatively low death rate.
| For the past five years tho popula-
ton has steadily increased and is
now estimated nt from $1,000 TO g..
sO0, one.third colorcd. The total
deaths for lsS5 were liSi-white
GGC, colorod SIG. The death rate
per 1000 upon this estimated popula-
ton is y 80 (Though the colored
population il aboll ono-third less
than tho white, IL furnishes the ma
jority Of the deaths.)
The average death roll for the
years 1888 SlSJ " ~ 10 per 1000, a
gain Of about 10 per cent. The
death rate OF 1876 does not material.
" alter these figures, THOUGH II
shows a gain Of ! J being - 80 per
1000 az against 2i.l0, tho average Tor
1873 ~ 50. The census Of 1888,
compiled IRON Skoles' directory OF
Memphis, gives 4 population Of g.
I1-whitcs i0,207, colorod 22l2O.
Tho total deaths Tor 1896 were 1925
whites GIG and colorcd 40, and the
death rate per 1000 Of white aud col.
orod was, az above stated, 22SG.
BY analysis Of the Mortality
Table. Cause OF Death" which
was contained 10 an address on the
Present Improved Sanitary Con.
dition Of Memphis" and road by
DR.. q. Is. Thornton, president a
the Memphis Board Of Health, at
the fliy.iourtk annual meeting Of
the Medical Society Of the State Of
Tennessee, held AZ Nashville April
- rs, 1887, IL will be seen that the
death rate from the zyuiotio inlec-
tiOns diseases scarlet fever, dip.
liberia, measles aud smallpox con.
tribute com 1arativcly very few
deaths. Consumption prevalent
mostly with tho colorcd populaiion)
malarial aud local diseases largely
predominant.
The low death rate from the above
prcvontable infectious diseases may
be fairly attributed 20 an improved
sanitary condition and a rigid i'm.
proycmont Of the health ordinance
sections as 10 contagious diseases.
IL can DO Justly claimed that the
present sanitary condition is vastly
improved In every particular upon
what II was some years ago, and
though tho work is not complete,
the standard reached, aud 10 all q.
sential features Of iis public health
service, IL fully abreast with all tho